ADA Urges Federal Officials to Make Dentistry Part of Antibiotic Stewardship Plan

Posted: June 5, 2026

ADA Urges Federal Officials to Make Dentistry Part of Antibiotic Stewardship Plan

Edited by Dentaltown staff

The American Dental Association is urging federal officials to recognize dentistry as a distinct part of national antibiotic stewardship efforts, citing data that general dentists account for more than 10% of outpatient antibiotic prescribing in the United States.

In comments submitted May 29 to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and a federal interagency task force, the ADA recommended that the next National Action Plan on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, covering 2026 through 2031, explicitly identify dentistry as a priority outpatient stewardship partner. A public meeting to inform the five-year plan is set for June 16.

The Association said the figure comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and noted that a recent analysis in The Journal of the American Dental Association found general dentists prescribed between 9.8% and 12.1% of all outpatient antibiotics from 2018 through 2022.

The ADA argued that stewardship strategies must reflect how dental care is delivered, since most of it takes place in small and solo private practices rather than hospital systems with dedicated stewardship infrastructure. It urged federal agencies to prioritize education, clinical decision support, patient resources, and quality improvement tools that are practical in those settings.

The comments pointed to the ADA’s 2019 evidence-based guideline, endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, which recommends against antibiotics for most pulpal- and periapical-related dental pain and swelling in favor of definitive treatment and over-the-counter pain relievers. The Association said stewardship policies should preserve clinical judgment and not discourage appropriate prescribing for high-risk patients, such as the limited group for whom prophylaxis is advised to prevent infective endocarditis.

The comments were signed by ADA President Richard J. Rosato and Executive Director Nader A. Nadershahi. The advisory council advises the Department of Health and Human Services on antibiotic resistance, while the interagency task force develops and updates the national plan.

Sources:
ADA News, “ADA highlights dentistry’s role in antibiotic stewardship, calls for practical support in national action plan,” by Olivia Anderson, June 3, 2026: adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2026/june/ada-highlights-dentistrys-role-in-antibiotic-stewardship
American Dental Association, comments to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, May 28, 2026 (PDF): ada.org/…/260528_eop_antibiotic_nosig.pdf


ADA Urges Federal Officials to Make Dentistry Part of Antibiotic Stewardship Plan

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